Electrochemical performance of electrodeposited Zn4Sb3 films for sodium-ion secondary battery anodes.

We report the electrodeposition of zinc-antimony composite films from aqueous solution. We show that it is possible to produce Zn4Sb3 films on zinc substrates by low-temperature annealing and we evaluate their performance as sodium-ion battery anodes. Near complete utilization of the antimony (>90%) during cycling, good cycle life (>250 cycles), and high rate performance is demonstrated for Zn4Sb3 thin films. Interestingly, when Zn4Sb3 transforms in situ to an amorphous zinc-antimony composite, it shows superior performance to zinc-antimony composites that are initially amorphous. This demonstrates the importance of the initial electrode structure on promoting the sodium alloying reaction.

Progression to AIDS: the effects of stress, depressive symptoms, and social support.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of stress, depressive symptoms, and social support on the progression of HIV infection. METHODS: Eighty-two HIV-infected gay men without symptoms or AIDS at baseline were followed up every 6 months for up to 5.5 years. Men were recruited from rural and urban areas in North Carolina as part of the Coping in Health and Illness Project. Disease progression was defined using criteria for AIDS (CD4+ lymphocyte count of <200/microl and/or an AIDS-indicator condition). RESULTS: We used Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates, adjusting for age, education, race, baseline CD4+ count, tobacco use, and number of antiretroviral medications. Faster progression to AIDS was associated with more cumulative stressful life events (p = .002), more cumulative depressive symptoms (p = .008), and less cumulative social support (p = .0002). When all three variables were analyzed together, stress and social support remained significant in the model. At 5.5 years, the probability of getting AIDS was about two to three times as high among those above the median on stress or below the median on social support compared with those below the median on stress or above the median on support, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data are among the first to demonstrate that more stress and less social support may accelerate the course of HIV disease progression. Additional study will be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie these relationships and to determine whether interventions that address stress and social support can alter the course of HIV infection.

The response of male chicken broilers to the dietary addition of virginiamycin.

Two replicate trials, each involving 400 Arbor Acre male broiler chicks, were conducted to determine the effect of virginiamycin as a growth promoter when added to either the feed or drinking water. A control group received no growth promoter while one treatment group was provided a diet containing 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg. Another treatment group was provided drinking water containing virginiamycin in amounts calculated to ensure equivalent or one-half equivalent intake of the antibiotic. Virginiamycin supplementation had no significant (P greater than .05) effect on mortality or feed conversion ratios, regardless of the mode of administration. Body weights at 21 days of age but not at 42 days of age were significantly (P less than .05) heavier for broilers receiving virginiamycin via the drinking water. The inclusion of virginiamycin in the feed failed to improve body weights at either 21 or 42 days of age.

Effect of lincomycin as a growth promoter for broiler chicks.

1. The effects of adding lincomycin to either the food (2.2 mg/kg) or drinking water (equivalent or 0.5 equivalent amount) of male broiler chicks were examined. 2. There were four treatments: control (no lincomycin), diet containing 2.2 mg lincomycin/kg, control diet plus drinking water containing lincomycin at concentrations calculated to provide an intake equivalent to treatment 2, and treatment 14 with lincomycin concentration reduced by half. 3. There was no significant effect of any treatment upon mortality, efficiency of food utilisation at 42 d of age, final body weights or monetary indices. 4. Analyses of breast, thigh and liver tissues, using a method with a sensitivity of 1.0 mg/kg, failed to reveal any evidence of lincomycin residues. 5. It is concluded that the use of lincomycin at 2.2 mg/kg may not be effective in improving either the biological or economic performance of the broiler chicken.

Hospital marketing budgets in 1985: what will bigger budgets bring?

Many administrators of hospital-based delivery systems are incorporating marketing activities into their daily operations. This survey was conducted to determine the level to which such activities have been developed. Detailed here in particular are the marketing differences between hospitals with large vs. small marketing budgets.

Microbiological Studies on Gas-Packaged Crumpets.

English-style crumpets, a chemically leavened bakery product, had a shelf life of 14 d when packaged in a CO2:N2 (3:2) gas atmosphere and stored at ambient temperature. Packages were visibly swollen after 14 d due to additional CO2 production, and the product had a distinct fruity odor when opened. Initial microbiota of the product, isolated from anaerobic plates, consisted entirely of facultative anaerobic spore-forming strains of Bacillus licheniformis . After 7 d at 25°C the spoilage pattern changed, with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) accounting for almost 100% of the total anaerobic plate counts (TPC) on APT and MRS (pH 5.5) agar media. Subsequently, the number of LAB declined slightly in relation to the TPC, and B. licheniformis strains reappeared. As the LAB increased in numbers, there was a concomittant increase in CO2 and lactic acid production and a drop in pH of the product. Metabolic activity continued even after the LAB were in the maximum stationary phase. Leuconostoc mesenteroides was subsequently identified as the major CO2-producing isolate.

Bacteriological Evaluation of Alkali-Extracted Protein from Poultry Residues.

The effect of alkaline conditions (pH 10.5 for 30-60 min at 23°C) on the extraction of protein from mechanically deboned poultry residues (MDPR) was examined with respect to the general bacterial flora, coliforms and salmonellae. Standard plate counts decreased from 1.5 × 103 CFU/g in the MDPR to 2.0 × 102 CFU/g in the freshly extracted protein curd; coliform counts decreased from 4.9 × 101 MPN/g to 0. Coliforms survived only when the MDPR was mishandled for 5 h at 23°C before alkaline extraction whereas salmonellae appeared to be eliminated entirely, irrespective of preincubation abuse of the MDPR or introduction of increased levels of Salmonella infantis . Spoilage of the protein curds occurred in 14 days at 3°C but there was no increase in coliform numbers. Reappearance of salmonellae following storage was seen only in the protein extracted from MDPR inoculated with S. infantis . The destruction of salmonellae by pH 10 was confirmed in a tryptic soy broth model system, but only under ambient temperature exposure; neither growth nor destruction occurred at 3 or 10°C. It was concluded that alkaline extraction of protein from MDPR using the suggested operating conditions does not exaggerate any public health hazard involving salmonellae.

Comprehensive community mental health center- business community relationship: a reexamination.

In this paper the belief that nonprofit service organizations and profit-motivated organizations should function separately from each other is questioned. Several of the advantages inherent from a cooperative relationship between comprehensive community mental health centers and the business community for the worker, mental health professional, comprehensive community mental health center, and business are discussed. Possible negative emotional responses against this new alliance are presented and dispelled. A joint effort between comprehensive community mental health centers and the business community is anticipated to develop with the common goal being the promotion of mental health.

Responses of young calves to low doses of lead.

Twenty calves, week-old male Holsteins, 42.8 kg body weight, were assigned to four treatments by oral dose 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 mg lead carbonate/kg body weight given three times weekly until calf fetal hemoglobin had been converted to 100% adult hemoglobin for 2 consecutive wk. Analyses were for the first 7 wk when data were complete. Variables included lead in blood, body weight changes, erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase activity, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, conversion of fetal to adult hemoglobin, and erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid. Early changes due to lead treatment were inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase at all doses and increased loss of hemoglobin at 3.0 and 6.0 mg doses. Growth rate was not impaired seriously by lead treatment. The 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid in erythrocytes reached peak value at 3 to 4 wk of age and then decreased with age, but 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid of the treated calves was not changed by the low lead dosing. Low lead dosing will induce early metabolic changes in the young calf prior to inhibition of growth.

Erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase changes in the preruminant calf.

Sixteen preruminant, male Holstein calves were tested for erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase activity, hemoglobin and erythrocyte count in blood samples taken weekly during the first 13 wk of life. delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydrase showed a continual increase in activity beginning at wk 3 to a maximal activity at wk 9. Hemoglobin content was decreased by wk 5 and erythrocyte count was reduced by wk 6. delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydrase enzyme activities increased with age corresponding to changes in hemoglobin and erythrocyte count during early postnatal development of the preruminant calf.

Petrology of unshocked crystalline rocks and shock effects in lunar rocks and minerals.

On the basis of rock modes, textures, and mineralogy, unshocked crystalline rocks are classified into a dominant ilmenite-rich suite (subdivided into intersertal, ophitic, and hornfels types) and a subordinate feldspar-rich suite (subdivided into poikilitic and granular types). Weakly to moderately shocked rocks show high strain-rate deformation and solid-state transformation of minerals to glasses; intensely shocked rocks are converted to rock glasses. Data on an unknown calcium-bearing iron metasilicate are presented.